Versatile high speed rotating mirror cameras

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Abstract
A description is given of some high speed rotating mirror streak and framing cameras, together with a discussion of the fundamental limits of performance of such instruments. These cameras have been developed at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, and are now in regular use in the study of high temperature plasmas and exposive phenomena. Versatility combined with maximum efficiency of performance have been the over-riding considerations in their design. Interchangeable optical systems have enabled framing rates of 8 million per second to be achieved with frame sizes of 8 mm at the top end of the scale, to framing rates of one million per second with 25 1/2 mm frame size at the bottom end. The corresponding maximum numbers of exposures obtainable are 117 and 23. Streak writing speeds of up to 30 mm usec-1 are available. Synchronization of the events to be photographed is necessary and is achieved with an integral photoelectric system.